Superstars (Friday 8pm, Five)
Aw, bless Five, they do try don’t they? And I’m glad they do as tonight a TV classic returns in the form of Superstars, resurrected by Auntie Beeb a couple of years back to a lacklustre response. To be honest, I stick around for the theme tune (which is a beauty), but the mechanics of the contest as famous sports personalities compete (this time in teams) is always a bit dull. Still, we’ve got Jim Rosenthal chewing up the scenery on hosting duties, which is always worthwhile.
EastEnders (Friday 7.30pm, BBC1)
It’s all very been tense in EastEnders this week as the Mitchells have all been off on a little jolly so the Enders’ production team can double-bank a couple of episodes. The best thing about this week has been the introduction of Archie Mitchell, as played by the brilliant Larry Lamb. He’s a nasty piece of work, and let’s hope his appearance in this sequence of away day episodes will be extended.
Celebrity Masterchef (Friday 8.30pm, BBC1)
The second quarterfinal and my money is on Wendi Peters. Go Cilla!
Would I Lie to You? (Friday 9pm, BBC1)
A reasonably entertaining panel game in which Angus Deayton chairs two teams, captained by David Mitchell and Lee Mack, who tell each other tall tales with the aim being to guess what’s true and what isn’t. Very similar to Radio 4’s The Unbelievable Truth (which Mitchell chairs), this could be pretty low rent fare, but Mitchell, Mack and Deayton are all pretty sharp in the laugh stakes, and with guests like Rob Brydon, it’s not going to be a dull affair.
Dad’s Army (Saturday 7pm, BBC2)
While every episode of Dad’s Army is always a winner (no, really they are), and always worth recommending, I’m flagging this repeat showing up to highlight Ian Lavender’s comments earlier this week on the state of British television. In Dad’s Army’s 40th anniversary year, he might actually have a point.
Carry on Night (Saturday, from 7.30pm, BBC2)
Looking around the schedules for tonight, this evening of programming to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Carry On films is a lifeline to avoid the Saturday night tedium. It’s a bit of a cheat though, as there’s nothing here that’s been produced specially, comprising a showing of Carry on Camping (always a pleasure, never a chore) and another outing for BBC4’s Kenneth Williams biopic, Fantabulosa! Best of all is a dusting down of Cor, Blimey!, previously shown on ITV a good few years ago. This is Terry Johnson’s comedy drama that focuses on the relationship between Sid James and Barbara Windsor, and is beautifully done. Geoffrey Hutchings makes a great Sid James, but Samantha Spiro as Babs is just magnificent. Highly recommended.
Foyle’s War (Saturday 9pm, ITV1)
Much as I like Foyle’s War, if a repeat from an earlier series is the best ITV can do on a Saturday night, summer or not, then things really are desperate, aren’t they?
Doctor Who (Sunday 5.35pm, BBC1)
Hang on a minute, weren’t we here last week? If you failed to catch the season finale of Doctor Who, then both The Stolen Earth and Journey’s End are shown here back to back.
George Gently (Sunday 8pm, BBC1)
We previewed this episode in last week’s Square Eyes, but it failed to materialise due to the overrunning of the Wimbledon final on BBC1. It’s good, gentle Sunday night fare with Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby making a likeable crime-solving partnership.
Midsomer Murders (Sunday 8pm, ITV1)
Upstairs, Downstairs star Simon Williams guests in tonight’s Midsomer Murders as an outspoken magazine owner who might just have got up the noses of a few locals in the village of Midsomer Sonning (just how many of these villages are there?). Of course, it’s not long before bodies are turning up left, right and centre. But is Guy Sandys (Williams) murderer or potential victim? Barnaby and Jones are on the case!
Dexter (Sunday 10pm, FX)
Crime dramas come in all shapes and sizes, and Dexter provides a neat counterpoint to the gentle, sleepy crime outings on our terrestrial channels this evening. It never ceases to amaze me how, week in, week out, the scriptwriters manage to sell this show. And now that Dexter himself has become the hunted, rather than the hunter, things have become even tenser. Yet, despite the subject matter and edgy visuals, there remains something utterly lovable at the heart of the show, and that comes from Michael C Hall’s appealing and charismatic performance in the lead. More please!
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